Tanya Aldred's county roundup
With rain feeling their collars, Hampshire snatched a last-gasp victory over Northamptonshire by an innings and four runs, leapfrogging Surrey to the top of the Division One table. Mohammad Abbas proved a skitty handful, scooping four for 32, supported by three for 63 by Keith Barker, but the last wicket went to James Fuller, who pruned Jack White’s stumps to put Hampshire eight points clear.
Lancashire are effectively out of the Championship race after they failed to bowl out Yorkshire at Old Trafford. Lancs biffed a quick 77 before setting Yorkshire 302 in 84 overs. Two quick wickets left Yorkshire squiffy but defiant stonewalling by debutant Finlay Bean, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Will Fraine saw Yorkshire through to the close. “I don’t know what more you can do,” said a disgruntled Glenn Chapple, Lancashire coach, afterwards, “It was flat enough to block if you want to, but that was a fair target. We’d have got 300 on that no problem.”
Sam Cook picked up 10 wickets in the match as Essex defied biblical downpours to beat Kent by an innings and 260 runs. They grabbed the two wickets they needed in 4.4 overs, top scorer Jordan Cox the last man out. Kent drop deep into the relegation zone.
Gloucestershire look doomed to spend 2023 in Division Two after rain ruined their chances of beating Somerset. To make matters worse, they were docked two points for a slow over rate.
In Division Two, only 55 minutes were possible in Glamorgan’s game against Worcestershire, the draw taking Glamorgan to second place in the table, while a sixth-wicket 17-over stand between Liam Trevaskis and Paul Coughlin thwarted Derbyshire’s push for victory over Durham at The County Ground.
Well, that’s that for another round, leaving Hampshire surveying the field from the heady heights of Division One and Surrey with work to do (though they have a match in hand).
Gloucestershire look doomed and Nottinghamshire promoted, with a fair scrap in play for the other promotion and relegation spots.
And with the news that the Queen died peacefully this afternoon, they’ve lowered the flags at The Oval.
Till Monday, good night.
Flag at half mast at the Oval pic.twitter.com/1VCcjImza3
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) September 8, 2022
So just one game left, at Derby, where Derbyshire are battling the weather and Durham stubbornness. Derby need five wickets, Durham 166. Twelve overs, theoretically, left. I must away to do my round-up, but will pop back occasionally.
Meanwhile, party time at the Rose Bowl:
🙌 HAMPSHIRE WIN 🙌
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 8, 2022
Andddd relax! James Fuller takes the final wicket as we defeat Northamptonshire by an innings and three runs 😍
Muhammad Abbas finishes with figures of 4-32 👑 pic.twitter.com/9PXdoZ0XyF
Hampshire beat Northants by an innings and three runs!
Hampshire 400-9 dec beat Northants 175 and 221 just a couple of minutes before the rain falls and go top of the Championship.
Updated
Play due to resume at 4.50pm at Derby, with Derby needing five wickets to win. 17 overs possible, weather permitting.
Rain touching the collars of the Hampshire fielders at Southampton… one wicket needed…
Nine down! Sanderson bowled by Abbas!
Ohhhhh it’s a ripper and the slip corden love it 😎
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 8, 2022
That man @RealMAbbas226 once again!@NorthantsCCC: 218/9 (67.5)
Watch LIVE 👉https://t.co/81UCJ1I3ba pic.twitter.com/n6EjTuM5eS
Updated
Now eight down at Southampton, with Abbas grabbing Taylor, caught for 11. Rain is skirting the ground the light iffy, and Abbas a handful.
I’ve ran out of words.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 8, 2022
Simply outstanding bowling from our overseas superstar 😍@NorthantsCCC: 211/8 (64.3) trail by 14
Watch LIVE 👉https://t.co/81UCJ1I3ba pic.twitter.com/4Qi8FJXINC
Updated
Lancashire draw with Yorkshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 and 280-5 v Yorkshire 255 and 102-3
Yorks 13 points; Lancs 13 points.
Seven down now at the Rose Bowl! Keith Barker the man, trapping Vasconcelos. Northants 17 behind, three wickets left! The win to jump to the top of the Championship.
An email lands from the MCC: there will be a special General Meeting on Tuesday Sept 27, after a written petition from 212 members, to discuss MCC’s decision to replace annual fixtures between Oxford and Cambridge, and Eton and Harrow, with the finals of talent-based competitions open to all universities and schools, for both men and women, and boys and girls.
The SGM on 27 September will be held online only. Voting for Members is open from today until 12 noon on Monday 3 October.
Guy Lavender, Chief Executive & Secretary, said: “Cricket is a game for all and our focus is on excellence. We want to replace Eton v. Harrow and Oxford v. Cambridge with finals concluding high quality competitions open to all schools and all universities – including Eton, Harrow, Oxford and Cambridge. We want the best school and university cricketers to play at Lord’s, having earned the right to do so by competing on the Road to Lord’s.
“Introducing these finals will help us fulfil our mission to increase opportunities for the largest possible talent pool to play at Lord’s. The more people who play cricket, the better for the long-term health of our game and therefore our Club.”
Rain stops play - Yorks 102-3
63.2 overs: Yorkshire 102-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 34, Fraine 18) The players stride off, the hover cover coughs into action and that could be that.
Updated
63rd over: Yorkshire 102-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 34, Fraine 18) Tom Bailey, a tattoo on each arm, dashes away from us in the press box. Eight people watching from the balcony of the hotel as Croft nearly bursts a lung to save a boundary from Kohler- Cadmore – only to kick the ball over the rope.
62nd over: Yorkshire 97-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 30, Fraine 17) Excellent stone-walling by Tom Kohler-Cadmore – 30 off 156 - and Will Fraine – 17 off 78.
And looks like a draw at Derby:
Rather wet out there. Mopping up continues but there's still quite a lot of poor weather approaching. It's spitting again now. It is going to take some time to get the field fit for play.#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/yWrTba6SBc
— Martin Emmerson (@Martycricket) September 8, 2022
A quick dart over to the Rose Bowl where James Sales has poked at Mohammad Abbas, and James Vince has swooped at first slip. Northants 191 for six, needing another 32 to waste some time and make Hampshire bat again.
60th over: Yorkshire 96-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 30, Fraine 16) Off with Parky, as Will Wialliams gets another go from the James Anderson End. A hearty lbw shout against Fraine but in hope rather than expectation, and that’s another maiden.
59th over: Yorkshire 96-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 30, Fraine 16) Fraine crashes Hartleys’ first ball for four where it disappears into the twilight zone under the empty party stand. Lancs take their third new (ish) ball of the day. Can someone please pop down to OT with some left-over wood and nails and hammer down the gaps ?
58th over: Yorkshire 91-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 30, Fraine 11) Four men surround Kohler Cadmore as Parky comes round the wicket, ripping the ball from hand to hand. Wicket-less today, he took three wickets in the thrilling finale to the Roses match here last year.
57th over: Yorkshire 89-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 30, Fraine 10) A Tom Hartley maiden is interrupted only by a cold call from an insurance company.
56th over: Yorkshire 89-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 30, Fraine 10) Spin since tea, from both ends at OT. Parkinson scuffles in from the James Anderson end, Fraine defends.
The news of a further inspection at 4pm at The Oval doesn’t seem to have gone down very well. Anyway, back to Old Trafford – and there is also play again at the Rose Bowl - where Northants must survive a session.
So the soggy draw at Taunton leaves Gloucestershire with no hope of escaping relegation, and lifts Somerset seven points clear of second-from bottom Warwicks.
Tea-time scores
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 400-9dec v Northants 175 and 177-5. Re-start due at 3.30pm
Canterbury: Essex 573 beat Kent 164 and 149 by an innings and 260 runs.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 and 280-5 v Yorkshire 255 and 84-3 Yorks need 218 to win.
Taunton: Somerset 248 and 11-0 draw with Gloucestershire 343 and 279-7dec
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 306 and 214-9 v Durham 223 and 108-5 Durham need 190 to win. Rain stopped play
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 295 and 5-0 draw with Worcestershire 454-9dec
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 201 and 390-7 beat Leicestershire 93 and 257 by 241 runs
Tea - Yorkshire 84 for three
53rd over: Yorkshire 84-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 29, Fraine 6) Tom Bailey turns to off-spin from a great height – something otherwise lacking from Lancashire’s armoury. And that’s tea! A minimum of 31 overs left today for Lancs to force a win – weather permitting.
52nd over: Yorkshire 82-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 28, Fraine 5) With ten minutes to tea – and with Northants five down at the Rose Bowl – Lancashire need a breakthrough. They need a win to stay in contention for the title – except mathematically – though we don’t yet know how events unfolding at Balmoral may affect things. Ooof a total snorter from Williams cops Kohler-Cadmore on the right thumb and the physio sprints on to apply the magic spray. They all take a leisurely slurp of a water bottle.
Meanwhile, Derbys’ victory charge is being thwarted by the rain at The County Ground.
It's a bleak scene in Derby now. Not sure how much more action we will see in the remainder of this match between @DerbyshireCCC and @DurhamCricket #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/T5h74HyvYW
— Martin Emmerson (@Martycricket) September 8, 2022
51st over: Yorkshire 82-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 28, Fraine 5) A run! Sunshine! And Graham Hardcastle points out that there’s an interesting conundrum for Kohler-Cadmore, who is battling to save Yorkshire from relegation – which may by default condemn his new team Somerset to the second division.
50th over: Yorkshire 81-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 27, Fraine 5) A fair scattering sitting outside the pavilion – certainly more than Andrew Strauss’s one man and his dog- though the skeletal empty party stand and the building work in place of the old 1862 suite adds a industrial clang. Ooof! Williams gets one to lift past Fraine’s bat. Another maiden.
49th over: Yorkshire 81-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 27, Fraine 5) Two slips for Bailey, Jennings joining Wells, just one man on the boundary. Bailey squeezes one past Kohler-Cadmore – who is moving to Somerset for next season. Another maiden.
48th over: Yorkshire 81-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 27, Fraine 5) Will Williams has a look of the action man who used to paraglide out of my brothers’ window on Sunday afternoons. Anyway, in he runs, elbows ajar, but Fraine plays him carefully away. A minimum of 36 overs left today. And we have another ball change – the second of the day, after one got lost under the party stand.
47th over: Yorkshire 81-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 27, Fraine 5) Tom Bailey, all long legs, neat and tidy in the Jimmy Anderson mould, races in from the Statham end. Just one slip for Fraine who carefully plays him away. One slip, Luke Wells, fresh from yesterday’s ring-a-ding century.
46th over: Yorkshire 80-3 (Kohler-Cadmore 27, Fraine 4) I’ll OBO this for a while, as the only game in town. Do email me at tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com. The floodlights come on at OT as Kohler-Cadmore drives Williams sweetly through the covers. If Yorkshire draw this, the will be 25 points clear of Warwickshire, having played the same number of games. Bohannon scuttles towards a ball looping off the pad of Kohler-Cadmore, but no cigar.
Updated
Just one game in play: the 277th Roses match.
Nic Maddinson, he of the exceptionally large bat, was well hunkered down at Derby, 32 not out, but rain has arrived, with Durham 103 for three, needing another 195 from 54 overs.
Glamorgan draw with Worcestershire
Glamorgan saved by the rain.
Glamorgan 295 and 5-0 draw with Worcestershire 454-9dec
Twelve points for Glamorgan, 14 for Worcestershire, which means Glamorgan go second in Division Two, with a crunch game against Middlesex next week – though events at Balmoral may change this.
A second wicket for Hartley, snaring the stoical Bean for 25, well snaffled by Lavelle behind the stumps. Yorks 67 for three and – don’t quote me here – unlikely to see the day out.
Lancashire getting frisky, Tom Kohler-Cadmore hits the ball into the ground where it flies to short leg. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth but the umpires confer and say pipe down. Yorks 67-2.
An inspection at 2.15pm at Taunton.
We resume at Old Trafford and Derby, and at The Rose Bowl where the mopping up has been both frantic and effective. Keith Barker doesn’t hang around, squidgeing Rob Keogh lbw for 14 in just the second over. Northants 164-4.
Essex win by an innings and 250 runs!
Essex 573 beat Kent 164 and 149 by an innings and 260 runs.
All over in 4.4 overs, Sam Cook 10 for 60 in the match, including seven for 33 in the second innings.
Updated
Ten wickets in the match for Sam Cook!
The breakthrough Essex needed – the rain has not saved Kent’s bacon, 149-9, 260 behind. Jordan Cox 65 not out.
Updated
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 400-9dec v Northants 175 and 153-3. Northants trail by 72 with 7 wickets in hand. No play yet today.
Canterbury: Kent 164 and 137-8 v Essex 573 Kent trail by 272 runs. No play yet today.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 and 280-5 v Yorkshire 255 and 30-2 Yorks need 272 to win.
Taunton: Somerset 248 and 11-0 v Gloucestershire 343 and 279-7dec
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 306 and 214-9 v Durham 223 and 61-2 Durham need 237 to win
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 295 and 5-0 v Worcestershire 454-9 dec. Glam trail by 154
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 201 and 390-7 beat Leicestershire 93 and 257 by 241 runs
Like a weathervane – some in, some out. Lunch at OT and Derby (scores to follow), wellies and whites on at, lunch at Derby (inspection 12.45), and soggy Sophia Gardens. But play at Canterbury.
Adam Lyth trudges off after aiming a loose drive outside off stump – just three more games to get through lad. Finley Bean is joined by George Hill – who put on 63 together in the first innings. And now a huge operation is underway to recover a ball from the temporary stand where it disappeared after a four from George Hill. Parky looks like he’s going to crawl underneath, before the Lancs 12th man lies flat on his front with a broom. The search goes on but they play on. Yorks 22-1.
At Derby, Michael Jones flurried his way to 24 from 21 balls before being bowled by Aitchison. Durham 42-1, need another 256 to win.
After the all-action first over when Lyth looked like being out every ball (and was dropped), events at Old Trafford have turned towards the staid. Yorks 14-0 from nine. No boundaries. Graft .
Why did I just eat three digestives that I didn’t want? In other news, rain has cut off Somerset’s successful 3.5 over survival at Taunton, as well as Glamorgan’s nascent follow-on – with Worcester’s Pennington and Gibbon finishing with four each. No play at all at Canterbury, where Essex need just the one wicket and there will be an inspection at 11.30, nor at the Rose Bowl, where Hampshire need seven Northants wickets to go top of Div one.
Updated
And Derby too, just after Ben Raine picked up his fifth wicket. Durham will have to stick it out for 82 overs – weather permitting – needing 298 to win.
Oooof and a drop first ball here at Old Trafford, Adam Lyth off Tom Bailey, Bohannon the culprit at short leg.
It’s all go - Lancs pocket their 300 lead and promptly declare. Yorkshire have been set 302 in 84 overs. Where is Harry Brook when you need him?
Gloucestershire declare at last – setting Somerset 375 off 90 overs, or, more likely, the opportunity to bolt the door before piling the sofa and all available bric-a-brac on top of it.
Harry Brook wins his first Test cap
At The Oval, the start of play has been delayed till 11.30, toss till 11am. Best of CC-Live luck Harry!
Patterson misses a complete sitter at mid-off, and still has his head in his hands two balls later. To scrub salt vigorously into the wound, Croft flashes him for four next ball.
Updated
Weather watch
Rain, rain, rain: at The Oval for the Test, at the Rose Bowl, and at Canterbury.
A snappy start at OT – only two dot balls, eight off the first over, eleven off the second, including the Dane Vilas reverse shovel.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 400-9dec v Northants 175 and 153-3. Northants trail by 72 with 7 wickets in hand
Canterbury: Kent 164 and 137-8 v Essex 573 Kent trail by 272 runs
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 and 203-3 v Yorkshire 255 Lancs lead by 224
Taunton: Somerset 248 v Gloucestershire 343 and 246-5 Gloucs lead by 341
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 306 and 185-7 v Durham 223 Derby lead by 268
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 241-8 v Worcestershire 454-9 dec. Glam trail by 213
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 201 and 390-7 beat Leicestershire 93 and 257 by 241 runs
Wednesday's round-up
Luke Wells slammed a century off just 65 balls as Lancashire aimed for a declaration today at Old Trafford. Yorkshire looked all at sea as Wells took to his task with gusto, picking up and clattering two of six sixes into the empty party stand, on his way to the second-fastest authentic Roses hundred.
His opening partner Keaton Jennings was denied a fifth successive Roses century when captain Jonny Tattersall unexpectedly pulled off his wicket-keeping regalia and turned his arm over. Jennings tucked into his fifth ball in first-class cricket, only to be well caught by Ben Coad at backward point – whose trousers promptly fell down.
Second-placed Hampshire lit the blue touchpaper taking 12 wickets in a day at the Rose Bowl, as Northamptonshire were forced to follow on. Barring an unlikely rear-guard, they will leapfrog Surrey at the top of the table. Hampshire’s indefatigable opening duo did the damage, with Kyle Abbott and Keith Barker grabbing four wickets each.
At Canterbury, Sam Cook took six for 33, nine wickets in the match, to reduce Kent to 137 for eight following on; Gloucestershire plodded to a lead of 341 at Taunton, leaving Somerset an uneasy final day ahead.
In Division Two, Nottinghamshire duly beat Leicestershire, by 241 runs, despite a stoic 10th-wicket partnership of 83 between Callum Parkinson and Michael Finan – who made 58 on his first-class debut.
Shubman Gill cultured a glittering 92 on his Glamorgan debut on a soggy day at Sophia Gardens to set up an intriguing final day against Worcestershire; while three wickets for Durham’s Ben Raine thwarted Derbyshire.
Preamble
Good morning! It’s the last day of this first September round, the dew is heavy and there were still a few swallows dancing about the meadows on the 8am dog walk. One of the seven games is already over – with Leicestershire duly losing in three days to Div Two leaders Notts – who I don’t think can now be caught.
Elsewhere, plenty to play for, if the weather doesn’t intervene: Lancs and Hampshire are desperate to hang onto Surrey’s coat-tails, and Hants can go top if they beat Northants. In Division Two, Derbyshire can go second if they beat Durham – who aren’t giving up without a fight.
